Westboro Baptist Church Leader Fred Phelps, Sr. Is Near Death

You may have heard that infamous hate group leader, Fred Phelps, Sr. of the Westboro Baptist Church is on his death bed.

His son, Nathan Phelps, who's been estranged from his father and the WBC for 30 years, posted this message on Facebook:

I've learned that my father, Fred Phelps, Sr., pastor of the "God Hates Fags" Westboro Baptist Church, was ex-communicated from the "church" back in August of 2013. He is now on the edge of death at Midland Hospice house in Topeka, Kansas.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Terribly ironic that his devotion to his god ends this way. Destroyed by the monster he made.

I feel sad for all the hurt he's caused so many. I feel sad for those who will lose the grandfather and father they loved. And I'm bitterly angry that my family is blocking the family members who left from seeing him, and saying their good-byes.

We're curious. How do you feel about Fred Phelps' impending death? Is this something to celebrate?

Is it an opportunity show the Phelps family (and the WBC) far more grace and compassion than they've shown the LGBT community, deceased soldiers, and more?

What do you feel is the appropriate reaction to the apparent soon-to-be death of an individual that's caused so much pain?

When someone is near death,or is dead,it is the asking of thee Almighty to not condemn nor persecute this person in any way shape or form.....................For that person is unable to defend themselves...And it is written that hate,,no matter whom or what for,shall not be practiced, but kept to yourself or not at all......It is in loving that we exist...and it is in hating that we expire........

I find it ironic that people loved to hate this man, saying he should burn in hell and other such nonsense and then just as soon as he's on the deathbed everyone gets the flowers and compassion going to keep up the appearances. He was a man with principles that he stuck to up to the end. I don't agree with him but the gay community could learn alot from the value of holding onto convictions and beliefs. Rather than hating and loving a person like changing clothes.

We are not to judge him - only God can - I'm hurt by his doings in life - condeming me as a gay man - maybe if he makes it to Heaven , he will see he was wrong -Im not a fan of his but he is in Gods hands now- what a wasted life he had -------------

Show him love and compassion. Death is not an easy thing to manage, especially for someone so confused in life. Allow our compassion to break ground with the disbelievers and the people we are feared by. We cannot make headway in our fight for equality by lowering ourselves to the level of negativity that our oppressors have shown us. Don't be the same as him, be better.

Do the same in death that we did in life - IGNORE HIM and his f*cked up family. He didn't deserve anything more than contempt while he was in his "pulpit" - why should he & his flock of hypochristians get any more press or attention now?

I hope his death causes his congregation to feel all the hate and pain that they have imposed on all of the familes of fallen soldiers, the gay population and everyone else scarred with their spewing of hate.

I pity this man and I believe that his karma has finally caught up with him. I hope that with his death, it will help teach others that hate is an infectious cancer and destroys lives, destroys hope and it destroys love, if we allow it. I don't hate this man because I don't have room in my heart to do so nor do I want to live my life hating others as he did. I forgive him only because I don't want to be anything like him or what he represented to humanity. Love conquers all!

The human side of me is happy this is happening. Maybe most of his legacy will die with him. But there's this other side of me who feels guilty for thinking that and pities him. He's had a lot of demons haunting him his whole life, and he's about to have a whole lot more. I just wish I could talk to him, get in his head, see what's caused this hate.

The Christian in me says to forgive and show compassion but, I only feel like they should feel the pain that other good people had to endure. They will never see it like we are doing them a favor if we show compassion anyways.